Man shot near UNC Charlotte City Center in uptown

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (FOX 46 CHARLOTTE) - A man was hospitalized with minor injuries following a drive-by shooting Thursday morning near UNC Charlotte's City Center Building, according to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police.

Officers tell FOX 46 Charlotte that the victim was walking by the City Center Building in the 300 block of E 9th Street with a friend shortly before 9:15 a.m. when the suspect(s) drove by in a vehicle and fired multiple rounds, hitting the victim at least once in the buttocks. Another bullet struck the City Center Building, shattering several glass windows.

“I walk literally right past here everyday and I was shocked when I heard there were bullets getting popped off here at 9 a.m.," said Cody Ceresi.

UNC Charlotte and their neighboring schools went into a brief lockdown following the incident. All lockdowns have since been lifted. No one inside the building was injured, police said.

“We do have one victim, but there could have been more innocent victims or bystanders who were in the school who could have been struck. We are very fortunate that no one else was struck," said Lt. Brad Koch from CMPD.

The suspect(s) remain on the loose at this time. CMPD said they plan to look at surveillance to help in their investigation.